Fantasy Football Handcuff Report: Week 7

Buffalo Bills

We’d still recommend you follow the Bills team injury report approaching game time, but it appears that rookie RB Devin Singletary will be active in Week 7. Singletary hasn’t played since Week 2, but has the opportunity to face the Dolphins in Week 7, and they’ve given up the second highest average fantasy points per game to RBs. Forever young Frank Gore has had a tremendous season thus far averaging 4.4 yards per carry (YPC), but Singletary’s role in the Bills offense will likely expand as the season progresses.

Los Angeles Chargers

Melvin Gordon played 60% of the offensive snaps for the Chargers, compared to Austin Ekeler ’s 45% in Week 6. However, on the field it was basically a 50/50 split when those snap counts were converted to playing time. The Chargers offense has been sputtering over the past two weeks. They’ve averaged 15 points per game during that span, and they’re running the ball just 33.6% of the time on the season. That’s the fourth lowest percentage in football. While the Titans have had their own issues on offense, their defense has only allowed opponents to score 15.3 points per game. They are tied for having given up the third most receptions to RBs this season, (40), but with Ekeler and Gordon involved in a virtual timeshare for now, it’s hard to imagine a situation where you’d get better than RB2 production out of either Chargers backs.

Los Angeles Rams

The Rams team injury report also needs to be monitored very carefully this week. Todd Gurley missed the Rams’ Week 6 matchup against the 49ers due to a quad injury, and has been limited in early Week 7 practices. Malcolm Brown is dealing with an ankle injury and is considered day to day. If either back plays this week neither is likely to be 100% healthy. That could mean that rookie Darrell Henderson could see significant playing time this week.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints are another team with injury concerns with regards to their start RB. They’re hoping Alvin Kamara will be able to play this week, however an ankle and knee injury kept him out of a mid-week practice. Latavius Murray would be the Saints’ primary back should Kamara be inactive this week. Watch this situation carefully as game time nears. The Saints signing of Zach Zenner is most likely just a precautionary move, but could prove to be telling.

New York Giants

As long as he’s active you’re going to have Giants RB Saquon Barkley in your fantasy lineup, but you’ve got to love his matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. They are giving up 133 rushing yards per game and 4.40 YPC to opposing RBs.

San Francisco 49ers

Last week we noted that Matt Breida , Tevin Coleman , and Raheem Mostert had basically played an even percentage of the 49ers offensive snaps in Week 5. In Week 6 Coleman played 55% of the 49ers offensive snaps followed not too far behind by Breida with 36%. At 5-0 the 49ers have established themselves as one of the best teams in football, and they have a very favorable matchup against the team from Washington that is one of the worst franchises in the sport. The 49ers’ success is built around their defense, which is giving up less than 13 points per game, and their ability to run the ball. As a team, the 49ers are running the ball 56% of the time, the most in the NFL. The team from Washington has been very susceptible to pass catching backs, giving up 41 receptions to the position. That ties them with the Cowboys for the second most receptions given up to RBs so far this season. They’re also yielding 134 rushing yards per game. It would appear that both Breida and Coleman are startable this week but beware of them cannibalizing each other and providing fantasy owners with RB2 type production.